RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Last year we saw the economy grow at a fairly healthy clip. In fact, it grew about 8% during one quarter last year. Unemployment was relatively low, although the benefits ratio was going down as health care costs grew faster than inflation. Despite some warning signs in the future associated with higher deficit spending, the economic looked good in 2004. Under such an economic picture, any President should have been overwhelmingly re-elected. In Bush's case, even more so, especially given that he registered a 90% approval rating two and a half years earlier after 9/11. In fact, if it had not been for Iraq, Bush would have beaten Kerry by least 12 percentage points.

Unemployment is at 5.4%, a rate lower than when Clinton was running for reelection in 1996. Minority unemployment is lower than during the Clinton administration. The economy has added over 1.9 million new jobs over the last year, 72% of those pay above the median income level (not McJobs like libs like to contend). Home ownership is at an all time high. Home ownership amongst minorities is at an all time high. The economy has grow at over 4.0% GNP for the last two years, registering the largest growth spurt in 20 years the last quarter of 2003. This is all after taking over an economy that was sliding into recession and withstanding the 9-11 attacks after which the economy lost 1 million jobs. Bush has successfully passed 4 tax cuts to help the middle class. Increased child tax credits. Inflation has stayed low allowing people to retain their actual real wealth. Interest rates have stayed low. Bush increased defense spending, educations spending and extended unemployment benefits when the country was in need after 9-11. If Bush walked on water the liberal media would beat him up for not swimming. Bush has done a strong job turning the economy around. He needs to curtain spending but in a time of war deficit spending was necessary. The tax cuts have proven to work as the tax receipts are actually higher than the projection due to the economic growth- we actually ran surpluses June and July this year. Bush deserves credit for making strong decisions to turn the economy during tough times and I think the American public will reward him with a second term for doing so.

Those economic measures put into place by Bush will not revive the economy. He should have gone to school.

The economy has not revived in any perceptible way. Therefore, this is of no use to Bush at this time.

Where has the economy revived? Not in my neck of the woods. Hello, 2 million jobs gone?? Is anybody listening???

I think that anyone could see that the economy is on the rebound.Proof that when you give people back more of the money that they have worked so hard to attain, that it stimulates the economy.

Yes the economy is very imoptant!